Experimental studies on the preparation and properties of starch‐graft‐poly(hexyl acrylate) copolymers

Abstract

AbstractThe preparation and the properties such as the chemical stability, solution properties, moisture absorption, ability to gelation, glass transition temperatures, thermal stabilities and the decomposition course of starch‐graft‐poly(hexyl acrylate) copolymers have been studied. In general, it can be said that as the grafting percent increases the chemical resistance in alkaline, inert, acidic and buffer environments, and the solubility in non‐polar solvents of the copolymers increases. In turn, the solubility in polar solvents decreases compared to the solubility of starch. The Tg of starch‐g‐poly(hexyl acrylate) copolymers is in the range 102–133°C and is much higher than Tg of poly(hexyl acrylate) homopolymer. The thermal stability of all tested copolymers is higher than 274°C (inert conditions) and 230°C (oxidative conditions). In inert conditions, all tested copolymers decompose in two main stages related to pyrolysis combined with the emissions of the following volatiles: CO, CO2, H2O, aldehydes, alcohols, acids, ester, furanes, aliphatic and alkene fragments. In turn, the copolymers decompose in main three stages in oxidative conditions. The emission of CO, CO2, H2O, aldehydes, alcohols, acids, aliphatic, furanes and alcohols as a result of pyrolysis, oxidation, decarboxylation, dehydration, and combustion processes was confirmed.